School Message
Hello to our Western families,
Congratulations to Mr. Hagan and to our Gr 11 Symphonic Band and Gr 12 Wind Ensemble on their Gold Award-winning performances at the Alberta International Band Festival in February. Both ensembles performed exceptionally well and represented Western with pride!
An additional and special congratulations go out to our Gr 12
Wind Ensemble won the Most Outstanding High School Concert Band. This award is selected by the festival adjudicators and recognizes the high school band that demonstrates music excellence in performance at the highest level. We are immensely proud of our 2026 Gr 12 Wind Ensemble!
And more congratulations to our Jr Boys' Basketball team and our Sr Girls' Basketball team for both winning Division 1 city championships! Our Sr Boys' team came up just short in the championship for Division 2, but played admirably. Our Sr Girls will be playing in Provincials in Edmonton next week, and we wish them well. We also have three wrestlers at Provincials in Medicine Hat this weekend and are eager to hear how they've done.
A reminder that there are no classes next Friday, as we will be having Student Conferences, and then we are off the week after for Spring Break. If you are not planning to attend conferences, then please do check PowerSchool to see how your child is doing.
Please note that the information found by logging in from a computer is more detailed than when just using the app.
Thanks,
Darrin Whitbread
Principal | Western Canada High School
Upcoming Dates
- Friday, March 20
- Non-Instructional Day - Online Teacher Conferences
- No School for Students
- Monday, March 23 - 27
- March Break
- No School for Students
Student Spotlight
Alice R, Day L, and Bella S were selected to participate in She Governs, a city of Calgary initiative that allows students to participate in municipal government.
Congratulations to Kiki R on being one of 40 applicants from across Canada selected for the House of Commons Page Program next year!
Updates
Extended Absences
It is the school’s responsibility to ensure parent(s)/legal guardian(s) understand the impact that extended absences may have on their child’s education. When parents/guardians wish to remove their student from school for an extended period of time (longer than 3 days) for reasons other than illness or bereavement, we ask that an Extended Absence form, available in the main office, be completed and submitted.
Attendance
To report your child’s absence, please call 403-228-5363, option 1, or email westerncanada@cbe.ab.ca. When providing an update, please include: The student’s full name (spell the last name slowly and clearly if leaving a voicemail). The reason for the absence. The timeframe of the absence. Please note: Attendance updates may take longer during transit delays, winter weather, or other events affecting attendance, as the school manages records for approximately 2,250 students. Updates may take up to one school day. To avoid delays, please do not leave multiple messages unless correcting a previous one. Thank you for your patience and understanding!
Subscribe to Stay Informed
Due to Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL), you need to subscribe online if you want to receive email or text messages on “commercial” school topics such as the Weekly Update or IPP communication.
Grad Gown Survey
There are many students in grade 12 who have not yet completed the grad gown survey. To avoid being allocated a gown that is too large or too small, please confirm your graduating grade 12 student has completed the survey on the graduation page of the school’s website: WCHS Graduation Information 2026. Your student will need to be logged into their Google account in their browser to access the form.
MyCBE Accounts
Parents, legal guardians, and independent students will need to create a MyCBE account to complete required forms, pay fees, etc. To create an account, please see the MyCBE Support page HERE. If you are experiencing difficulties in creating your account, please see Ms. Hanley in the main office.
Grad Fees – Now Due
Grad fees this year are $85, including GST. This fee has been added to your graduating student’s account and is now payable via your MyCBE account or in person at the Business Office.
A reminder that we ask ALL outstanding fees, from current and previous years, be paid in full prior to the end of the year. If you are experiencing financial difficulties, please see below how to apply for a central fee waiver. This waiver must be completed for a student to be considered for a school-based waiver of fees.
Centralized Fee Waiver
No child is ever denied access to an education in the Calgary Board of Education (CBE) because of an inability to pay. If you can't afford the fees, there are several ways to qualify for a central fee waiver.
Waiver applications for the current school year are found online through your MyCBE account and are available from the start of the school year until June 30. Please check out more information here.
City of Calgary Youth Hiring Fair
Students—the City of Calgary Youth Hiring Fair is on March 26, from 1:30–6:00 p.m. at the Big Four Building, Stampede Park. Meet 80 employers hiring for part‑time, full‑time, and seasonal jobs.
Open to ages 15–24.
Need help preparing? The Youth Employment Centre offers free resume help and job‑readiness support.
Details and the employer list can be viewed at calgary.ca/yechiring.
Tech Centre Closed
The Tech Centre will be closed starting Thursday, March 12t,h until after the Spring Break.
If you are looking to see Mr. Smith regarding Dual Credit & Exploratory programs, he will be in R133 in the afternoon. As always, students are encouraged to book online at https://tinyurl.com/4ychvz39
DISCOVER YOUR FUTURE
CBE Unique Pathways Information Night 2026
March 11, 2026
5:00 – 7:00 pm
Lord Shaughnessy – Career & Technology Centre
Application Opens: March 9
Application Ends: April 11
Explore exciting high‑school opportunities that connect you to post‑secondary learning, industry partners, and hands‑on career experiences—all while earning high‑school credits your way. For full program details & requirements, see https://tinyurl.com/387u6sv7
PROGRAM AREAS INCLUDE
- Academic & Career Pathways
- (NEW) Introduction to Indigenous Studies
- Business Management
- Calculus
- Computer Science
- ICT Software & Web Development
- Solving Tech Problems
- Healthcare Career Essentials
- Psychology
- Kinesiology
- Medical Terminology
- Introduction to Sports Management
- Applied Ecology
- Green Certificate
- Veterinary & Medical Pathways
- Introduction to the Veterinary Profession
- Veterinary Technical Assistant Certificate (In-person)
- Veterinary Technical Assistant Certificate (Blended online)
- Pharmacy Assistant Certificate
- Trades & Technical Pathways
- (NEW) Civil Engineering Technology
- Boilermaker
- Building Trades
- Carpentry
- Electrical Trades
- Finishing Trades
- Ironworkers
- Pipe Trades
- Sheet Metal Trades
- ICT Interactive Design
- Culinary & Hairstyling
- Culinary Trades (SAIT)
- Hairstylist
READY TO APPLY?
See Mr. Smith in the Tech Centre for help with your application.
Book online: https://calendar.app.google/z9dFzp2LH4ZhqCVo9
CTS 2026 Summer School Programs
Career and Technology Studies (CTS) Summer School provides students with access to high-quality, career-connected learning and CTS credit opportunities during the summer. Summary below with more details and application on Summer School website: https://tinyurl.com/5n952esn
Program Dates: July 2–28, 2026
19 instructional days | 80 instructional hours
Student Eligibility
- CBE students seeking CTS credits toward graduation
- Students whose home schools do not offer specialized CTS programs
- Students exploring career pathways prior to Unique Pathways participation
- No prerequisites required
Program Offerings
- Broadcasting & Podcasting (Fee: $15 + $100 deposit)
- Cosmetology (Fee: $75)
- Welding (Fee: $120)
- Intro. to Networking & Cybersecurity (Fee: $15)
- Intro. to Engineering (Fee: $15)
Applications Open: March 2, 2026
Applications Close: April 10, 2026
Application Form can be filled out digitally, printed, signed, and returned to the Off-Campus Coordinator (Mr. Smith).
All About Grad Information Session
Western Canada High School’s Parent Council would like to invite all parents to a meeting, in the library or online, for an "All About Grad" Information session. The meeting will start at 6:30 pm with an introduction from Darrin, and then move on to our Grad info night. The Google Meet link is below.
Language Course Challenge Exam Reminder
This is a reminder to students who signed up to do the Language Course Challenge Exam that part 1 is happening this Friday. Please remember to bring your USB and the materials you need for the exam. You will need to enter through the science compound doors, by the back parking lot entrance, and the caged bus area by 8:30 am. Make sure to review the Language Course Challenge Guide and exam requirements beforehand.
Semester 2 Peer Tutor and Tutee Sign-up
https://forms.gle/iqM8huu2C29zBVQ18
We will email the tutor & tutee as soon as we have established a compatible connection, but any questions can be directed to serivers@cbe.ab.ca.
Course Selection for Next Year Grade 11 and 12 Students:
The deadline to complete Course Selection for the 2026/2027 school year has now passed. If your child has not input their course requests into Power School for the next school year, they need to visit their guidance counselor in Student Services as soon as possible.
2026 Graduation List
The 2026 Graduation List is now posted outside of Student Services. We ask all Grade 12 students to take a moment and look at the list if they are expecting to be on the graduation list.
If students are expecting to see their student number on the list and do not, they are asked to please contact their guidance counselor as soon as possible.
Finance 101 Workshop – UVic Gustavson School of Business
Students are invited to attend a free online workshop, Finance 101: Personal Finance for Students Preparing for College and University, led by Dr. Michael King. The session will cover budgeting, saving, building credit, and financial readiness for university.
Date: April 9 at 6:00 PM PST. Parents, teachers, and counsellors are welcome.
Registration required here: https://uvic.zoom.us/meeting/register/qbGro9oeTA-BLXJG3lg3Uw#/registration
Personal Finance for Students
Check out the following workshop by the University of Victoria’s Dr. Michael King - "Finance 101: Personal Finance for Students Preparing for College and University."
Join in on this interactive session, aimed at bolstering students' financial readiness for university life. The workshop promises a glimpse into Gustavson's School of Business’s approach to finance, while covering topics like budgeting, saving, establishing credit, and more.
Session takes place on Thursday, April 9th at 6 p.m. PST.
Please register for the session here.
Teacher Conferences
Teacher conferences will occur in-person from 5:30-9:00 PM on Thursday, March 19th, and online from 9:00 AM -12:00 PM on Friday, March 20th. Any parents/guardians interested in meeting with their student’s teachers during these times are required to pre-book meetings through PowerSchool. School Conference Manager will open to parents/guardians on Friday, March 13th at 9 AM and will close on Wednesday, March 18th at 3 PM. More detailed information regarding how to sign up for conferences will be sent via School Messenger next week.